Comedian Wil Anderson on Eddie McGuire, kids and medicinal marijuana
Before they were radio co-hosts, Wil Anderson used to joke about Eddie McGuire at his comedy shows. So has working together changed his tune?
Comedy Festival
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Wil Anderson has decided against having children because his body can’t handle it.
“I couldn’t have a child with these hips,” joked the 45-year-old comedian, who has chronic hip pain and osteoarthritis.
“I wouldn’t be able to stop them running into traffic, I wouldn’t even be able to pick them up.”
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Anderson’s mates have all become dads but the Wil-Informed star is not interested.
Fellow comics such as Adam Hills has two daughters, Tom Gleeson one of each and Dave Hughes got the hat-trick.
Anderson and long-term partner Amy Williamson are rarely seen in public.
“I wouldn’t be one of those parents who puts a leash on their kids. Funnily enough, out of all the material I’ve done over the years on anti-vaxxers and climate change deniers, the most angry emails I’ve received is from the ‘leashers’.
“They tell me I’m like a baby-murderer if I don’t agree with them.”
Further pressed about why he’ll never be dad, Anderson replied: “I have no faith in this planet, we have climate change and overpopulation.”
Anderson has been candid about his use of medicinal marijuana to treat his physical pain.
Anderson also opened up about his Hot Breakfast co-host Eddie McGuire’s latest foot-in-mouth moment after he criticised the pre-game coin-toss of double amputee Cynthia Banham.
“Eddie knows he’s got form.” he said.
“Ed’s done it before ...and let’s face it he’ll probably do it again. I spoke to him last Saturday and he was genuinely shattered, not performatively.
“We did what we always do on Monday morning, at 7.10am on Triple M — we talked about it. Eddie apologised to the family the right way.
“Nothing is taboo on air, that’s one of the reasons I joined the team and replaced Mick Molloy.
“It’s easy for me to work at the ABC; it’s much harder going into Triple M.
“People ask me how I can work with Eddie McGuire after talking about him at my shows for years. I still do it! Now I get to do it to his face,” he laughed.
“It’’s exactly what Mick Molloy used to do.”
Anderson remains one of the marquee acts at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. His Wil-Informed show will mark his 23rd year in a row, meaning he’s spent more of his life doing the festival than not.
This is the first time he’s abandoned the very Melbourne look of all-black.
“My management suggested I go with a white suit this year for a change because it looks funny and I stupidly said yes.
“There’s a lot of improv with the crowd at the moment because I didn’t do Adelaide Fringe so the show is different every night and that makes it so exhausting but so much fun for me — my synapses are firing.”
OUR REVIEW OF WIL ANDERSON, WIL-INFORMED
Rating: ★★★★½
Reviewer: Daniel Ziffer
Things that TV, radio and comedy superstar Wil Anderson won’t ever run out of?
Punny titles, packed shows of happy customers and industry acclaim.
Anderson’s 23rd straight year of shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival brings him slap-bang into a brutal life milestone: he is 45 years old, middle-aged.
It also displays his continued originality and diligence.
Most artists perform before a black curtain. He has a vast commissioned artwork.
Most comedians whose day job is hosting breakfast on radio station Triple M would shy from mocking right-wing hero Jordan Peterson, or deciding to splay open toxic masculinity and environmental decay. Anderson? Boots in.
Never a lecture, this is a laugh-a-minute ride, masterfully helmed.
Wil-Informed, Comedy Theatre, 240 Exhibition St, city. Wed-Sat, 7pm, Sun, 6pm.
Wil wears white suit from Costume Box.
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